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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-12-17, Page 1Operations at the Domtar Sifto Salt Mine were suspended indefinetly after the se- cond methane gas explosion within a month rocked the mine here last Thursday. A fiery gas explosion, similar to the Nov. 13 blast that sent technician Dan Bizier to hospital with extensive burns, ripped through the south section of the mine at 3 a.m. prompting an evacuation of the workers and suspension of all a tivity. two men, who were working in the vicinity of the blocked off area where the first ex- plosion occured, were treated for smoke ex siari and dust inhalation and released from hspital. He estimated they were at least 1,000 feet from the area of the gas explo- sion Thursday. "They were working in the same section but were not too close. We had the area blocked off because we knew there was stress activity in the roof," he explained. "We could see a problem in that area and after the explosion we closed the mine and took the necessary precautions. We want t' •Tr!'" ¢"rp fhpre k ryf� ddanffPr to anyone." Brian Stewart, one of the mine employees working in the area of the ex- plosion, said he saw the fireball and knew exactly what was happening from descrip- tions of the first blast. "We weren't real close and I felt safe," he 'said. "I didn't hear a bang but we weren't working directly jn line. I saw a big flame ball and a then a second later it was a big wall of black dust. It was just gone in a fraction of a second." Working eight 017nine drifts away, Stewart said he knew what was happening from Rier's description ofthe first inci- dent. lie remainea cairn dud dtayd intruck. "I was the flash and knew what it was. I 1oaer1cn - mme Police seeking armed robber pulled my truck ahead, shut if off and waited until everything cleared," he recalled. Energy and Chemical Workers Union president Guy Robinson said all the men immediately made their way to the lunch room after the blast for a head count before returning to the surface. "They were all out in 30 minutes and that's the best we've ever done," Robinson said. "Things went pretty smooth.There was some panic with the guys and a few said to y weren't going w go back down. At press time it was not known when the Turn to page 2 138YEAR -51 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1986 60 CENTS PER COPY Goderich Police Tuesday were still try- ing to locate a suspect in the armed rob- bery of a Goderich convenience store. The thief escaped from Becker's Milk store on Huron Road with $167 in cash just before 9 p.m. Dec. 12. Police are seeking a "very skinny" male, approximately 18 to 22 -years -old, said Chief Patrick King. The suspect is about five feet, six inches tall and was wearing wire frame glasses. Wearing a scarf over part of his face, the man brandished a, butcher knife, as he ioreeIi iiLC Wm cii:Ii: U. men! over the money. No one was injured in the. incident. The robber escaped in a 1979 Plymouth, stolen from South End Auto Body earlier in the evening. The car, which was taken by a thief who entered the body shop via a broken window, was recoverred• about 4 a.m. on Dec. 13 on North Street, about one kilometre from the robbery site. This is the second armed robbery that has occurred at the Huron Road stare since it has been operating. The last one, which occurred in 1981, resulted in charges by local police. Child injured in vehicle accident Buttons the clown (left) and El Rocco were the feature event- (other than Santa Claus, of audience as well as pretending to be asleep, much to the delight of the kiddy crowd. Buttons the Legat the annual Goderich ion Hall. El Rocco, Buttons' 16 -year-old pony, performed tChristmas riycksufo Sundayafternoon captivated entertaining crowds of all ages. (photo by Andy Badertravel all over ) province performing tricks and Legion Day care group stalled b cou ncl .decision , Goderich Town Council has defeated a committee was to: make recommenda- suprised and very angry," at council's "It stalls plans for a municipal day care motion to pursue the provincial govern- tions to council on income restraints for decision. centre at this point, but it certainly doesn't ment's policy on day care. At the Dec. 15 means testing; inform the public of in- "We have gone to a lot of work over the finish us altogether," she said. meeting, council defeated the motion in a come restraints and eligibility re- past several months in pursuit of day Care Most members of the parents' commit - show -of -hands vote, with four of the eight quirements for subsidy; pursue means of for our kids," Selkirk said. "We have tried , tee currently make use of a privately run councillors present opposing the motion. decreasing the projected per diem rate to be polite and give council all the infor- day care centre at operating at Knox The motion was a result of a request by a ($18 to $21 per day) and to explore alter- mation they requested, but they don't Presbyterian Church, on Victoria St., delegation from the Parents Daycare natives to a municipal centre. seem to see it (municipal daycare) as an Goderich. Arrangements to operate out of Committee, which has been lobbying for a Council instead, motioned to have the- important issue in this town. the church remain in effect until next municipal day care centre in town for over Parents Daycare Committee meet with "With council, several members have June, but after that, said Selkirk, the a year. The committee, having . studied a the Administration and Personnel. Com- been very helpful, but the others don't parents may have to find a new site . report compiled by Town Administrator mittee to discuss the situation and make seem to think it is an an important issue. For now, the committee plans to con - Larry McCabe detailing the current recommendations back to council. We don't know where else to take this with tinue to support the idea of "day care in regulations and fee structures for "The motion was basically the same as council," she added. general" through letters to members of municipal day care centres as presented their request, except for setting up the Selkirk said council's decision makes provincial and federal parliament, Selkirk at the Nov. 25 meeting, requested a joint joint committee," explained McCabe. municipal daycare an impossibility at this said.ed parent -council ad hoc committee be form- After the meeting Daycare Committee point, b .,her group does not consider the wi"1 d bhing the issue backen a new council s' vote in'88, ed. The proposed mandate for the joint spokesperson Debbie Selkirk was "very issue closed. Garbage contractor given time to cleanup his act "Since this company has taken over the, "Referring a "Now that we know it's there, there's ab - garbage pick-up contract for the Town of solutely no problem," he said. Goderich, our service has deteriorated to he Of the complaint by the automobile the point of having to call almost weekly to The works fed up dealership, Carter said the problem was a demand pick-up," said a letter from with rep matter of overweight material. Patricia Noirel, administrator of Maitland tractor "Once they had 45 gallon drums out Manor. "I am extremely concerned and there and the by-law says we are only sup - distressed over this situation. It is totally the end of posed to lift up to 60 pounds." unacceptable to have garbage accumulate I think we better check our alter- Carter called the complaints "nitpick - to the point of having our back hallway fill- natives, in case ing" and said he doesn't understand why ed and the outside bin heaping full," she d Counc Glen the Department of Public Works does not complained. Carey. notify him immediately when a complaint A second letter of complaint about slow a d is regis. •red./ garbage pick-up was received from up stated Don "We hay e radio contact (with the truck drivers) and if the guys are still in townwe can send them to correct the problem," he said. Carter said he felt both council and the customers had over -reacted to the situation. "I can't see; why three complaints war- rant a new contract," he said. Following repeated complaints from, some local businesses, the town council has ordered Carter's Waste- Disposal, the company contracted • to handle garbage pickup in town, to clean up its act by the end of the year. Complaints from businesses have been received by council in recent months and referred to the Works and Property Com- mittee. On Nov. 18, a representative of :Carter's Waste Disposal attended a works committee meeting and was told "im- 'provements made by their firm still are not up to the standard required by the town Goderich and that further efforts will have to be Plymouth Chrysler at the Dec. 8 made to improve collection." meeting. Two complaints about garbage pickup Both letters were referred to works com- again surfaced at the Dec. 8 council - mittee, a treatment to which Deputy meeting. Reeve John Doherty' was opposed. Parkin request to be studied all this stuff about garbage to works and then back to council is ridiculous," said. committee is also it," lied Coun. Jim Searls, who said the committee had told the can service problems must be addressed by December. �° we have to dismiss this fellow from contract," said "Th problems have all been cleared Carter,owner-operator of the Wingham based disposal service. "As far as I'm concerned there never were any problems." Carter said the complaints stem from misunderstandings about service pro- `'cedures. He said his company was never told Maitland Manor had been piling gar- bage in the hallways, as well as in the out- side bin. A Goderich resident's request for an ex- emption from the town's no overnight winter parking bylaw, was referred to the Traffic Committee, at the Dec. 15 meeting of Goderich Town Cooped. Goderich resident Clayton Mizen, in a letter to council,asked to be allowed to park vehicles overnight on the boulevard in front of his residence at 144 South St. Mizen's residence is a house, divided into apartments for which he contends he can- not provide sufficient off-street parking. "As in past -Years, I have spoken to (Goderich Police) Chief Patrick King and aboutCouncillors parking bleri at my residence nout St Threp- ly that I got this time is that I should make my front yard into parking: My thought on that, was this is the Prettiest Town in Canada'. Tearing up my front lawn sure would help that image?" the letter stated. • The town allows overnight parking on Elgin Avenue because of the wider boulevard and the Bedford Hotel has ar- rangements for parking on both sides of South St., from The Square • to Elgin Avenue. "All these examples provided, I feel justified in requesting equal treatment as a taxpayer and resident of Goderich," said Mizen's letter. Lift considered for 1987 budget An 11 -year-old Goderich girl was injured in a collision with a motor vehicle on Elgin Avenue, Tuesday Dec. 9, report the Goderich police. The accident occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m., when a motorist turned off Vic- toria Street to head east on Elgin. As the vehicle entered the crossing, the, child left the sidewalk and ran into the side of the vehicle. Police Chief Patrick King said the motorist was "driving properly," when the incident occurred. - The child was taken to the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, though police said she was not seriously injured. Youths charged in local break-in Goo erich police have charged three male oung offenders with breaking, enterin: Snd theft, stemming: from break- ins at a 1 oderich residence and the local Liquor Con. of Board of Ontario outlet. One of the ouths has already appeared ii court and as sentenced to 12 months of pen custod , to run concurrent with time air dy eing served for unrelated char es of forgery. The break-in at the residence occurred on Nov. 24 and the LCBO break-in on Oct. 25. In both cases, a quantity of liquor was stolen. A proposal to give financial assistance to project. He also indicated the existing of - the McKay Centre for Seniors for a plan to fice space is too small and requested that install a handicapped lift and enlarge the enlargement be included in the project. office space in the building will be con- The town's leaserrangment with the cen- sidered when drawing up the town's 1987 tre contains a provision that the town's budget. Goderich Town council received a contribution to the upkeep of the centre not recommendation from the Works and Pro- exceed $5,000. perty Committee at their Dec. 15 meeting, Cominissionoer of Public - Works Ken that council consider providing assistance Hunter informed the works committee with the project. that the exiting steps and exit in front of A McKay Centre representative told the the office at the centre can be removed to works committee at a Dec. 10 meeting, allow for the proposed expansion, as the that the centre has about 02,000 on hand exit is not required under the Ontario and would be willing to put $30,000 into the Turn to page 2 Council- denies lighted alley= A request from a group of downtown pro- perty owners and residents for a streetlight in the alleyway behind the Bank of Montreal was denied by Goderich Town Council, on the recommendation of the Works and Property Committee.• Council approved a motion from tbe. committee at their Dec. 15 meeting, call- ing for no action to be taken on the request for the streetlight. The town does not 'own any property or right-of-ways behind the stores in 'the downtown area. The alleyways are private property. Comissionor of Public Works Ken Hunter noted the town installed one light in each alleyway in 1975 on the recommenda- tion of Police Chief Patrick King. 'Businesses and residents who petitioned for the light on the premise the alley in question was dark and unsafe, were to be informed the committee's policy is to fnaintain one light per alleyway. INSIDE THE{ SIGNAL-STAR Sailors defeated Despite new faces on the Goderich Sailors Junior C hockey team, the team lost to Hanover and Wingham over the weekend. For pictures and story, see the front page of the Sports section. Public ' meeting held A public meeting was held last Thursday evening at the Goderich Arena -Auditorium to discuss the 'accomplishments of the Goderich Recreation Master Plan and Feasibility Study. For a story, see inside the front section. Travelling pastor Known as "The Travelling Pastor", Rev. James Carne of Auburn holds down two jobs. Not only is he pastor of Huron Chapel Missionary, Church in Auburn, he also drives a transport truck delivering the fruit of the land and the word of God to various Ontario cities. For a story and pic- ture of Rev. Carne, see the front page of the Community section.